Printer and printing method

Abstract

An image is recorded on a recording material line by line during transport of the recording material by a drive roller and a driven roller. Rotation of a motor is transmitted to the drive roller via a traction drive decelerating mechanism. An output shaft of the traction drive decelerating mechanism and a first end of the drive roller are connected on the common axis with a connector. A second end of the drive roller and the traction drive decelerating mechanism are cantilever-supported by a drive roller supporting mechanism.

1 . A printer for printing an image on a recording material which is nipped and transported by a drive roller and a driven roller, said drive roller including a roller body and a rotary shaft, said rotary shaft having first and second ends extending from said roller body, said printer comprising: 
 a motor which rotates when said recording material is transported;    a traction drive decelerating mechanism for decelerating rotation of said motor, having an output shaft for outputting decelerated rotation;    a connector for connecting said output shaft of said traction drive decelerating mechanism and said first end of said drive roller on the common axis; and    a drive roller supporting mechanism for supporting said second end of said drive roller and said traction drive decelerating mechanism.    
     
     
         2 . A printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said drive roller supporting mechanism including: 
 a first bearing for enabling rotation of said second end; and    a second bearing for rotatably supporting said output shaft.    
     
     
         3 . A printer as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said drive roller supporting mechanism further including: 
 first and second side plates placed at both sides of said roller body, said first bearing being fit in said first side plate and an opening being formed on said second side plate for being penetrated by said first end; and    a supporting member fixed to said second side plate to cover said connector, said second bearing being fit in said supporting member, and said traction drive decelerating mechanism being fixed to said supporting member.    
     
     
         4 . A printer as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said traction drive decelerating mechanism including: 
 a ring roller formed integral with said output shaft;    an input shaft rotated by said motor, having a shaft end being placed at the center of said ring roller; and    a plurality of planetary rollers disposed about said input shaft inside said ring roller, for transmitting rotation of said input shaft to said ring roller.    
     
     
         5 . A printer as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said traction drive decelerating mechanism further including: 
 a case for housing said ring roller and said planetary rollers; and    grease filled in said case.    
     
     
         6 . A printing method for printing an image on a recording material, comprising steps of: 
 rotating a motor;    transmitting rotation of said motor to a drive roller via a traction drive decelerating mechanism, a rotary shaft of said drive roller and an output shaft of said traction drive decelerating mechanism being connected on a common axis, said drive roller being rotatably supported at two points of one end of said rotary shaft of said drive roller and said traction drive decelerating mechanism;    nipping said recording material between said drive roller and said driven roller to transport said recording material; and    printing said image on said recording material during transport thereof line by line with a recording head.